Michelle "MishManners" Duke
DevRel 🥑 | Hackathon Queen®™ | Founder | Esports Queen
Melbourne, Australia
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Mish is a multi-talented personality in the tech and gaming communities. Mish has worked in the technology space for the last decade and has a tonne of experience in developer advocacy, community management, marketing, and content creation. Mish has spoken at over 380 events on topics like AI, the future of work, communication, teamwork, and has given technical demos. She's a respected leader in the hackathon community, having won, organised, and mentored over 100 hackathons.
Mish is a successful entrepreneur and founder, having co-founded several companies – including an artificial intelligence company, and as a result, sits at the forefront of Melbourne’s science, tech, esports, and startup scenes. In her 'spare' time she’s a streamer, journalist, loves playing sports, and is always working on something exciting.
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Is voice the natural progression of AI?
We learn to talk before we learn to read, write, or type. Voice is our most natural form of communication, yet in programming, we have long communicated with rigid computer languages, and even tying queries into our search engines. With AI rapidly reshaping how we build and use tools, voice is emerging as the next evolution for human–machine interaction.
In this session, we’ll explore why developers should care about AI voice and how it can unlock new opportunities in productivity, accessibility, and user experience. From building voice-enabled applications to integrating voice into everyday workflows, we’ll look at practical ways to harness this technology. Expect live demos that show how you can start experimenting with AI voice today. Let's turn spoken words into powerful, real-world applications.
Voice isn’t just another feature, t’s the next frontier for developers to innovate and create more human-centered technology.
How I used AI voice to help me play Magic: The Gathering
I love playing Magic: The Gathering (MTG), but I can never remember all the different mechanics, keywords, or interactions. So, I built an AI voice assistant to help us play. By combining speech-to-text, large language models, and text-to-speech, this assistant can explain rules, and guide us through in-game actions, all powered by natural conversation.
In this talk, I’ll walk through how I built the MTG AI assistant, share live demos of it in action, and show how developers can apply the same techniques to their own projects; whether you are building something for yourself, or something for a large user base. Along the way, we’ll explore why voice is the next frontier for AI, how it can make apps more accessible and engaging, and why developers should be experimenting with it right now.
Whether you’re into games, productivity, or just building cool stuff, this session will show you how to turn spoken words into powerful, voice-driven applications.
Skills for the age of AI developer tools
With the rise of AI and automation, how do we as humans find our value in the workplace? How do we work with these new technologies? How do we build resilience to changes? What skills are needed for us to thrive in this new world?
People have often felt apprehensive about change, especially big changes to the way we work. It happened in the industrial revolution and now it's happening with the rise of artificial intelligence. Five years ago these things existed, but now they are accessible to almost everyone.
In this session I'll cover:
- What is work and why should we work
- Industrial revolutions
- Artificial Intelligence and applications
- Fears and concerns
- Working with AI
- Skills for AI developer tooling
- Soft skills and how to cultivate them
Git Good and level up your version control
Ever accidentally deleted a file and wished there was an "undo" button? Have you struggled to collaborate on code without chaos? Enter Git. It's the ultimate time machine for developers. Whether you're new to coding or never really understood Git beyond git clone, we'll break it all down in this talk, because version control shouldn't feel like rocket science 🚀.
In this talk we'll explore why Git exists, how it helps teams (and even solo developers) stay sane when building projects. We'll demystify terms like commits, branches, and merge conflicts. I'll give you some practical tips to Git Good, and you'll walk away, armed with the knowledge to put version control into practice.
In this talk, I'll cover:
✅ What is version control
✅ What is Git
✅ Why Git is essential for every developer
✅ How to track changes, collaborate, and avoid disasters
✅ The magic of branches and why you should use them
✅ How to recover from mistakes like a pro
✅ How you can use GitHub with Git
✅ What to do when you get stuck
No prior Git experience required.
GG, how you can use git and GitHub for game development
Are you a game developer or have you ever thought about writing a game? Have you thought about source control when it comes to video game development?
In this talk I'll cover git and some of the issues surrounding source control and gaming. We'll look at some open source game engines you can use to develop games, and some of the challenges in the gaming industry.
Key takeaways:
- what is git
- why is source control hard in gaming?
- what is the industry standard?
- alternatives
- open source game engines for developing code
- how to get involved in game development
Beyond Code: Unraveling AI's Origins and Futures
Where did AI really come from? Where did it all start and where's it all going?
In this talk let's explore where AI all started. Drawing on my experience founding an AI company in 2016 (which is still going), let's embark on a journey through the history of artificial intelligence (AI), delving into its origins and casting a visionary gaze towards the future. From humble beginnings to the cutting-edge advancements of today, we unravel the how behind AI's evolution, exploring the pivotal moments, key influencers, and transformative breakthroughs that have shaped its trajectory. We'll include a look at the origins of GitHub Copilot and how it's shaping the lives of developers.
This talk doesn't just focus on the past. We also look into the uncharted territories of supposedly AI's limitless potential. We'll consider some of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. How AI might potentially redefine industries, reshape human interactions, and impact the very fabric of our existence. I'll also leave you with some takeaways on skills we need as humans to stay ahead of the game when it comes to AI, and ensure we are equipped to have a job in a world where AI will seemingly be working alongside us.
How I used GitHub Projects to move my house
GitHub Projects is an often forgotten or underutilised GitHub feature. It's a powerful tool for managing your projects, whether they be software development, or a personal hobby.
This adaptable, flexible tool for planning and tracking work can be used by developers and non-developers alike. It's one of the best ways you can have your team working together across all disciplines.
In this talk, you'll see GitHub Projects in action, and see how I used GitHub issues, forms, tasks, milestones, timelines, and automation to help plan my house move.
What Hackatoberfest taught me about building and maintaining a repo
Last year during Hacktoberfest, I took the opportunity to create a new project so some of us could work on. It was something many of us had experienced and we thought it would be a fantastic way to ensure we all got to contribute during Hacktoberfest; if you don't know what Hacktoberfest is, it's an annual event that celebrates open source software by encouraging people to contribute to GitHub repositories during the month of October.
As the person who started this new project I became the maintainer by default. I can tell you I learned a tonne! As a maintainer of an open source project, participating in Hacktoberfest can be both exciting and overwhelming. In this talk, we will explore the lessons learned from maintaining an open source repository during Hacktoberfest. We will discuss strategies for managing incoming contributions, including ways to communicate with contributors, merge conflicts, and more. We will also explore how to create a welcoming environment for new contributors and foster a culture of inclusivity in open source projects.
By sharing this fun (and sometimes scary) experience, I hope to inspire others to participate in open source projects and help make the world of software development a more collaborative and inclusive place.
Working with the GitHub CLI
Takeaways:
Learn about the GitHub CLI is and why you should use it
Learn the features of the CLI and how it can help your workflow
Learn about some useful extensions to do more with the CLI, plus find out how you can contribute and build your own.
Abstract:
At GitHub, we love developers to work the way they want. Some like to work in the browser, others in the editor, and some don't even want to leave their terminal. With the GitHub CLI, you never have to leave the command line. Perform all your favourite GitHub commands directly from the terminal; open an issue, check out a PR, merge some code and more. There are also hundreds of extensions available, both from GitHub and from the community. Come along to this session and see how to level up your terminal skills with GitHub CLI."
What video gaming taught me about teamwork
I recently started playing Animal Crossing in order to be able to present at a conference. What I soon saw was there were so many nods to teamwork and collaboration. The whole idea of the game is to collaborate.
What can video gaming teach us about collaboration and how can this be applied to the physical world. I'll draw on examples from several video games as well as sport.
Collaboration is one of the most important (albeit often forgotten) pillars of DevOps
How to use Twitch and live streaming to build your fanbase
At GitHub, we've been using live streaming as a way to engage with our users. Come and hear our story. Learn top tips on using Twitch or any other live streaming platform. What kind of content should you be doing? How are you engaging? What can you offer? Are there channels to follow for inspiration?
I've also been doing lots of live coding on my own channel. Twitch is not just a place to watch people play games. Live coding is taking off and those working in Developer Relations are in the best position to speak to this audience. Find out if Twitch is for you and how to get started.
DevOps isn't just about developing
It's widely accepted that DevOps is as much a cultural shift as it is about the technology that's used. DevOps consists of four main pillars, one of which is collaboration.
Collaboration is so important, it's also nothing new. As our future of work is moving towards this soft skill, how do we find our ultimate dream team, and work effectively across an entire organisation to build the best products and services?
In this session I'll talk about why collaboration is important and how developers and non-developers can work better together. I'll also give you some tips on tools to use for more effective collaboration and teamwork across multidisciplinary teams.
Releases Galore - how and why to ship software releases
Not every developer does a software release. Sometimes they'll just commit to main. What are the advantages of releasing your project? How can you automate the whole process to make it easier?
Learn all about software releases, how to ship releases, and how to automate this process. You'll also find out how you can submit your major project releases to be featured on GitHub!
How to effectively pitch your idea
When it comes to building a business, or creating a game, you will be required to pitch your ideas. Selling your idea to investors, PR companies, potential teammates, partners, content creators, and event organisations will be crucial to the success of your game.
How does one do this effectively without sounding egotistical? I'll teach you the MAGIC formula for pitching any idea, any game, to anyone. You can use this magic formula for an elevator pitch, a 5 minute lighting round, a 20 minute session, or even an hour long workshop.
At the end of my session, you'll walk away with a playbook on how to sell your game to get what you want. You'll also receive tips and tricks for effectively pitching your game.
Ensuring quality testing in an AI-driven world
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the software development landscape, testing is evolving at a rapid pace. Traditional testing methods are being augmented or replaced, by AI-driven automation, predictive analytics, and intelligent quality assurance. But with these advancements come new challenges. Can AI really understand human intent? How do we ensure fairness, reliability, and ethical considerations? Where does empathy fit in a world increasingly dominated by algorithms?
In this keynote, we’ll explore the intersection of AI and software testing, diving into how quality assurance professionals can adapt, innovate, and stay ahead. We’ll discuss the role of human oversight in AI-driven testing, strategies for balancing automation with critical thinking, and the future of testing in an era where software quality directly impacts real-world experiences.
It's an exciting future of testing, where AI enhances our capabilities, yet human empathy and intuition remain irreplaceable.
In this talk, I'll cover:
✅ Evolution of software testing
✅ What is AI-driven testing
✅ How to effectively use AI in testing
✅ Role of people in testing
✅ Future of testing
Michelle "MishManners" Duke
DevRel 🥑 | Hackathon Queen®™ | Founder | Esports Queen
Melbourne, Australia
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